Master's Program
The Department of Human Development and Family Studies offers a course of study leading to the Master of Science degree. The focus of the department is the development of the individual and the family throughout the lifespan. The graduate program provides students with an advanced understanding of human behavior and development, as well as with skills enabling them to contribute to scholarship and professional practice.
Requirements include five core courses, a thesis, and concentrated work in one of the two program specializations:
Master's students must choose one of these program specializations. The Family and Developmental Studies specialization focuses on normative development of individuals and families from birth through old age. It prepares students for careers ranging from Child Life Specialists working with ill children, to research and program evaluation, to teaching at the community college level, to creation and evaluation of preventive intervention programs. The Marriage & Family Therapy program, which is accredited by the Commission of Accreditation of Marriage & Family Therapy Education, provides a specific professional curriculum that prepares graduates for licensure as Couple and Family Therapists. Students in the Family & Developmental Studies program design their curriculum, under their adviser's guidance, that supports their career goals. Curricula in both programs include core courses in theories, issues in HDFS, and research methods as well as a research thesis or smaller, non-thesis research project. The department has strong links with a number of internship sites in the local community and, for students interested in becoming a child life specialist, with children's hospitals around the country.
Applicants come from a variety of backgrounds including the behavioral sciences, education, and the health professions. Opportunities exist in each specialization to focus on particular age ranges, such as early childhood, adolescence, or adulthood and aging. Graduates are expected to demonstrate strong research skills. Graduates are expected to demonstrate strong research skills, and must complete either a thesis or a research project under the supervision of a graduate committee.